DayOne's Reviews
If this review reads a little negatively, it is more down to setting a fair expectation to the sacrifices made to get Elden Ring onto the Nintendo Switch 2 to start with. Whether those ends justify the means is, ultimately, down to the buyer. What I can say is this; Elden Ring is intact on Switch 2, perhaps closer to the older days of FromSoftware releases than the new on the technical side, but the best way to play on a handheld and still an excellent videogame for those who haven’t dived in yet on other consoles. A tarnished epic, but an epic nonetheless.
It’s a tough one to answer, especially in a genre where a pattern of dead match queues after short-term success is the common narrative. I can’t speak on that future, but what I can say is right now Halloween needs work: on its match pacing, its learning curve, its gameplay mechanics, and crucially…its bevy of technical issues. There remains potential for a solid multiplayer horror title here, and the IP and visuals might be enough to convince some, but as of right now, Halloween is not an easy title to recommend to all but die-hard fans of the genre.
If you’re a fan of killing demons and the like as an angelic force of destruction, then Crimson Moon is easily worth the $19.99 USD asking price. And hell, even if you’re not, it might still be worth it just to have another fun co-op game to play with friends.
Ultimately, Speedrunners 2: King of Speed is more excellent gameplay buried beneath a collection of unnecessary additions. The classic competitive platforming is still fantastic, and if all you want is more Speedrunners but prettier, then there is absolutely fun to be had here. It’s just a shame that so much of the new content feels like it distracts from, rather than improves upon, what made the original such a brilliant little multiplayer game in the first place.
Blood Dungeon asks the player for a little more patience then I expected. Its biggest weakness is the slow speed at which runs can build towards that wonderful bullet-heaven feeling of becoming hilariously overpowered. With some genuinely great platforming, and a decent number of unlocks, it eventually delivers a decent amount of fun. I just wish it got there a little quicker.
Marsupilami 2 is a solid, packed little platformer that’s fast-paced just enough for everyone to get in on the fun. An easy recommendation for the 2D platforming enthusiast and family looking to do more than just the odd obby. ∎
Onimusha: Way of the Sword is a brilliant reboot of the long-running franchise, with only a lack of enemy/boss variety holding it back from greatness.
My early impression of Serious Sam: Shatterverse was not all that positive – felt like a “Serious Sam at home” that lost the uniqueness of the original games, while also simplifying the game formula, losing the wacky easter eggs and more. And yet, despite some repetition of the stages, a couple hours in the game truly shines, thanks to the vast array of stage modifiers, the depth of the loot game and class builds, and the intensity of the gameplay on higher difficulties, making for quite the exhilarating FPS roguelite experience – especially in co-op. While we wait for the next mainline Serious Sam, Shatterverse shall keep us busy with its intense and highly replayable roguelite scenarios.
If you’re looking for a different breed of survivors-like, do give Yet Another Zombie Survivors a chance. Its gory undead theme and squad-based gameplay make for a fun and unique twist on the genre, with more than enough content and gameplay variations to last quite some hours. It doesn’t have the obscene amount of content of Vampire Survivors, nor the extreme depth of Soulstone Survivors, and and form of co-op or multiplayer, local or online, is also missing. Still, this is one bullet heaven not to miss for fans of the genre!
that leaves us with a mechanically simple, yet fairly unique bullet heaven title, one carried by interesting cartoony visual humor and a few interesting twists on the genre. Ground Zero Hero doesn’t quite have the depth or variety of the genre’s bests, but for a handful of hours of radioactive fun I can absolutely recommend it to fans of survivors-like games.
You’ll likely be picking this up for METAL GEAR SOLID 4, its long-overdue port finally making the rounds with this latest Master Collection entry. But don’t sleep on Peace Walker either—both are incredibly fun games and shine like beautiful lights even after twenty whole years, thanks to this great port. ∎
If you haven't played S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, this is the perfect time to jump in. Version 2.0 is a massive upgrade. The expansion is seamlessly blended into the progression of the story, and it is fantastic.
Mortal Shell II is a massive glow-up over the first game. It hits every note that I am looking for in a Soulslike, with enough variety and unique ideas to make it a true stand-out.
The Sinking City 2 is an exceptional videogame, and one that deserves its place amongst the all-time great videogame sequels.
If Asobo Studio has more Sophia stories to mine, I am all for it. Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy jumped to my favorite in the series. Despite some combat repetition, the story it tells and the manner in which it is delivered are top-notch.
The true hilarity (and often frustration) comes if you play with mates in local VS. I suspect this fun would also apply to the future online mode, but I do wonder however how much lag will impact the experience. Or would it unintentionally enhance the jank!
It is a dated and beautiful game, for worse, and often for better. Can I recommend it to a player without a strong cultural memory of games of the era this was inspired by? That’s a tough one. But for anyone who remembers Jak, Ratchet, iNinja, Sphinx and Tak among others, with Duskfade, Weird Beluga have bottled that nostalgia, warts and all, and it’s not overused or repeated. In short – they don’t make them like this anymore.
Splatoon Raiders brings an intense, fun cooperative looter shooter to the Nintendo Switch 2—one that I think the system really needed! While the core gameplay loop can sometimes become tedious, the weapon and enemy variety paired in with Splatoon’s signature movement makes for incredibly intense horde survival battles. Explosive even. ∎
Ultimately, Panzer Knights: Commander’s Edition is more than the sum of its parts. Disappointing presentation, limited depth and variety, noticeable jank, not much done with the anime style and a complete lack of co-op or multiplayer hamper the game’s potential immensely. Yet, I’ve found the campaign to be an enjoyable romp on these wildly hot summer evenings, and Panzer Knights does the one thing it aims to do well – deliver a fun and accessible war tank simulation. Personally, I’m alright with that.
Big Walk is a remarkable game that achieves some pure video-game magic. If you’re on the fence and reading this, find your best friend – or friends – and give it a shot. I guarantee it will surprise you, and I think you’ll love the journey.